Category: POPULAR

  • Twenty youths grab top Huawei competition prizes

    Twenty youths grab top Huawei competition prizes

    A total of twenty students from different universities across the country are the recipients of the just concluded prestigious Huawei national ICT competition awards, divided into four categories, namely Network, Cloud, Innovation and Computing Tracks.

    The top three students from the network category were: Riwell Wambugu Kibira from The Co-operative University of Kenya, Denis Fundi Ndunda from Laikipia University and Humphrey Iha Mwambanji from Machakos University.

    Three leading students in the cloud category were: Brian Kiptotich Rutto from Laikipia University, Rush Morgan Ounza from The United States International University and Julius Kirimi Mugambi from Zetech University.

    Top three winners from the computing tracks were: Ashtone Onyango Omondi from Kenyatta University, Beverlyne Nyamoita Mairura from Kenyatta University and Denis Mutuku Nthenya from Kenyatta University.

    The leading students in innovation tracks were: Kariithi Anne Wanjiku from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Rodney David Osodo from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Patrick Kisio Muema from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

    At the same time, Huawei technologies and the Kenya Government through the Ministries of ICT and Digital Economy and Education respectively are working together to grow the population of young Kenyans that are ready to participate in the digital economy.

    Speaking at the event, Eng. John Tanui, Principal Secretary, State Department for Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy said that the partnership between the government and Huawei is expected to accelerate the process of adding more digital talent to the Kenyan economy in line with the National Digital Masterplan.

    “The initiatives undertaken by Huawei to boost our national digital pipeline are impressive. We have noted that the firm has signed up 8 new ICT academy partners including USIU University, University of Eastern Africa Baraton, Umma University and Taita Taveta University, a clear demonstration that the ecosystem is growing tremendously,” he said noting that these brought the total number of universities partnering with Huawei to 58. Other new academy partners were Kabianga University, the Africa International University and the Equip Africa Institute.

    Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research, commended Huawei for its consistent commitment to ICT education, pointing out that the investment in personal and professional development was a critical component of the country’s overall talent growth targets.

    “Our economy is evolving and the level of ICT prevalence has also expanded to a point that we now have an urgent need for experts to work across the various sectors of the economy as a result of the evolving digital transformation,” she said, adding that the government will continue to work with partners and academia to create a positive lasting impact and to leverage on innovation and collaboration in order to address global challenges and upskill the Kenyan youth.

    Huawei’s partnerships extend to UNESCO, with which the firm has had a cordial relationship for several years.

    Prof. Hubert Gijzen, Director UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa “I am particularly excited to see the collaboration between the private sector and academia in this competition, which is critical to preparing students for the workforce and their careers. This is becoming ever more critical in the field of technology which is increasingly being integrated into all our lives and all the sectors.”

    In addition, the University of Nairobi has now been elevated to become the second Academy Support Center in Africa. The center will be expected to promote and provide support to the other Huawei ICT academies within Kenya.

    The training programs offered by Huawei and its partners include internship opportunities as well. The winners and other participants were awarded internship opportunities at Huawei and in the partner organizations, Com21, TA, Soliton, Yabra, MFI.

    The Huawei ICT Competition is a global competition for university and college students. It has covered 82 countries worldwide, with 150,000+ student contestants from 2,000+ universities and colleges. In Kenya, Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 has attracted 3,200+ students from 40 universities promoting digital skills in Networks, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud and Big data.

    The competition aims at driving the development of high-quality ICT talent, select qualified talent for the industry, continuously provide future driven training, promote active participants for digital transformation, promote efficient mapping of talent supply and demand and further contribute to a sustainable talent ecosystem.

    Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices operating in over 170 regions and countries. The firm is committed to bridging the digital divide and cultivating local ICT talent through various training programs curated for university/college students, public servants among other key recipients.

  • Air France – KLM Group Outlines Its 2023 Strategy, Sets Sight on Increased Traveler Traffic

    Air France – KLM Group Outlines Its 2023 Strategy, Sets Sight on Increased Traveler Traffic

    • In Kenya, the airline is projected to register 19 percent more seats than in 2022. The expected growth is attributed to increased business travel post the August 2022 general elections.
    • New Regional General Manager exhibits confidence in Nairobi’s ability to support Air France-KLM operations by providing a stable and developing business climate and regional connectivity.

    Air France KLM Group has today announced a raft of measures aimed at solidifying its position in the East African Market and meeting the fast-changing consumer needs.

    This comes after a challenging pandemic season that saw air travel falling sharply prompting airlines to cut capacity.

    Speaking while outlining the new measures, the new Air France – KLM General Manager, East & Southern Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana, based in Nairobi Marius van der Ham said, “For 2023 we aim to capitalize on the gains made in 2022 to further solidify our position in the East Africa market. This means we will improve our products and services, review our fare structure to match consumer needs, improve our loyalty program, and continuously improve our airport experience by providing our customers with great support both at our departure and arrival stations”.

    As of 2022, at least 85 percent of the airline’s capacity in the market was restored against the backdrop of the gradual lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions on passengers.  The contribution of corporate travelers sat at 75 percent for the region versus 2019 while in Kenya the contribution was 95 percent, and 16 percent more in Tanzania, consequently showing an above average recovery of this segment.

    Looking into 2023, Air France KLM Group projects that it will register at least 16 percent more seats than in 2022 in terms of capacity in EA, SA, Nigeria, and Ghana. This is back to the 2019 level when the pandemic hit the aviation sector.

    In Kenya, the airline is projected to register 19 percent more seats than in 2022. This return to the pre pandemic ambition is attributed to increased business travel post the August 2022 general elections and renewed interest in Kenya as a destination.

    “Kenya and the region remain a top priority of our network and we shall continue to provide a high-frequency network with updated products and services to connect Kenya to the world via our two hubs Charles De Gaulle – CDG and Schiphol. Besides, we will continue to apply our double hub strategy to offer more choice and flexibility to our customers” said Marius van der Ham

    Regionally, Air France KLM is set to expand its frequency by introducing new routes in the year. This is in addition to an already established network of KLM flights into Uganda and Rwanda.

    Over and beyond expanding routes, Air France-KLM has announced ongoing plans to incorporate sustainability and reduce the airline’s carbon footprint in 2023. The objective is to achieve 30 percent fewer emissions per passenger/km by 2030 versus 2019, have 10 percent of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as its power source, and 64 percent of the fleet consisting of NextGen aircraft.

    “We have already engaged in an ambitious fleet renewal program focused on the Dreamliner and A350 for our long-haul network and the modern A220, A320 neo, and Embraer aircraft types for our short-haul operation,” said Marius van der Ham

    On new products and services, the group recently rolled out a new solution aimed at providing a real-time and seamless end-to-end travel experience for travelers.

    Dubbed Business Solution – the online portal is designed to offer travelers relevant travel information from policies and procedures, to the airline’s products and services, the latest news, waiver requests, and network updates. The solution replaces AgentConnect.biz.

    In addition, Air France – KLM outlined ongoing measures to improve its Flying Blue loyalty program and increase its usability both for earning and burning customer miles. This will be complemented by the implementation of branded fare structure that provides customers with more choice on what elements they value in their ticket which is a more basic product for price-sensitive customers while the fully flexible fare for customers in need of more options. All fares can be customized by adding extra products or services like baggage, CO2 compensation, meals, etcetera.

  • LG Unveils Smart Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioning Solutions With Intelligent Operation Based On Real-Time Weather Conditions

    LG Unveils Smart Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioning Solutions With Intelligent Operation Based On Real-Time Weather Conditions

    Using the company’s smart home platform, the LG ThinQ™ app, customers can remotely control and monitor their LG HVAC residential solutions and LG home appliances

    LG Electronics (LG) will this year roll out new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ( HVAC) solutions to meet increased consumer needs amidst the ongoing climate change conditions.

    Showcased earlier this year at the AHR Expo 2023, the U.S.’s largest HVAC event, taking place in Atlanta, the new high-efficiency solutions will be customized for commercial and residential applications.

    The solutions included Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, higher energy-efficient heat pumps, indoor air quality solutions, and flexible building automation and connectivity products.

    Speaking while making the announcement, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company James Lee said, “As LG, we will continue to introduce advanced HVAC solutions designed to maximize customer value and expand our presence to the global air conditioning market. Besides, these new solutions allow us to move the world away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner heating and cooling solutions, such as those from the extensive line of efficient, high-performance”.

    As the year unfolds, one of the key solutions to be rolled out is the LG Multi V™ i, an all-electric VRF cooling and heating solution equipped with the company’s AI Engine. The latest Multi V also boasts Edge computing architecture, intelligent operation based on real-time weather conditions, and remote software and firmware upgradability.

    A next-generation VRF system, the Multi V i has a single refrigerant circuit that makes it possible to connect multiple indoor units to a single outdoor unit. Additionally, it provides options that help maximize energy efficiency and minimize operational costs, and is suitable for a wide range of commercial applications. Offering engineers and building owners outstanding flexibility in terms of performance and design, the Multi V i is available in capacities from 6 to 44 tons and can be used in single or dual-frame modular configurations.

    Another solution is LG’s Inverter Scroll Heat Pump Chiller which raises the standard for solutions in the air-cooled chiller category. The LG Inverter Scroll Heat Pump Chiller is designed for cooling and heating.

    With an impressive integrated part load value (IPLV)1 of 19.46, LG’s chiller can be used in many sectors for many types of use scenarios, providing a reliable mechanical solution for both large- and small-capacity applications.

    The Inverter Scroll Heat Pump Chiller’s performance and versatility can be attributed to several key components, including LG’s inverter technology, which enables a precise and efficient response to load demand and industry-leading low-ambient, high-efficiency heating. What’s more, a modular design allows system engineers to install the chiller using a two- or four-pipe configuration to provide simultaneous cooling and heating functionality without sacrificing efficiency or performance.

    An AHR 2022 Innovation Award winner in the ventilation category, the LG Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) is a commercial ventilation system that also delivers effective dehumidification, cooling and heating. Able to control the temperature and humidity of the air inside a building or facility, DOAS comes equipped with a dual heat recovery system that minimizes energy loss. Meanwhile, the LG Therma V™ Air to Water Heat Pump (AWHP) solution provides efficient, dependable heating, cooling, and hot water supply, and is an excellent replacement for a domestic-use gas boiler.

    Using the company’s smart home platform, the LG ThinQ™ app, customers can remotely control and monitor their LG HVAC residential solutions and LG home appliances. And through LG ThinQ Smart Diagnosis, they can maintain the performance of their LG products and make direct inquiries to LG system experts should the need arise.

  • Janet’s Mbugua takes her Message to africa and the World

    Janet’s Mbugua takes her Message to africa and the World

    Social Justice Advocate and Media Personality and Founder of Inua Dada Foundation, Janet Mbugua continues to scale her advocacy in Kenya and beyond, with her engagements taking her to the rest of the continent and most recently to Los Angeles California where she was a Keynote Speaker at the Gender Justice Summit, speaking alongside global figures such as award winning Actress Melissa McCarthy and Academy Award Winning Organization The Pad Project.

    In just a couple of days, Janet is will be speaking at #AHAIC2023 in Kigali, Rwanda, alongside global public health leaders committed to re-envisioning the future of health in Africa.
    Some of the eminent dignitaries will include: Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA, Rumbidzai Chisenga, Director of Programs, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Centre for Women and Development (EJS Centre) and her Excellency Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia.

    The founder of Inua dada opines:

    “Matters around health equity, choice and access are so important to me and in the fight towards equality for all. Public Health leaders will unite, convened by @amrefhealthafrica @rwandahealth @africanunion_official & @africacdc. Join me and a host of other speakers to discuss mapping Africa’s path to health resilience.
    Register here – https://bit.ly/3w76aDV
    CitizenWitness Digital continues to wish Janet success after the other. May God bless her abundantly.

    Janet Mbugua’s Inua Dada Centre in Korogocho employs women to make sanitary towels which are distributing to underserved girls in the community.

    She recently joined Hon. Gloria Orwoba to speak out against Menstrual Stigma and the push for Menstrual Justice.

  • Enabling financial inclusion in Kenya: Impact investor NMI now Abler Nordic and announces new fund on the horizon

    Enabling financial inclusion in Kenya: Impact investor NMI now Abler Nordic and announces new fund on the horizon

    Abler Nordic will commence fundraising for Fund V in 2023, with ambitions of raising at least USD 140 million and a significant allocation for further investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

     

    Abler Nordic is the new name of Nordic Microfinance Initiative, a public-private partnership investing in companies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia supporting low-income households with financial services. The new name was launched locally at an event in Nairobi on February 21 by Managing Director Arthur Sletteberg, along with the announcement of the start of fundraising for their latest Fund V in 2023.

    “Kenya is one of our key markets, and we are are excited to continue our growth under our new name and our new fund. Global poverty has risen for the first time in 20 years and low-income people across Sub-Saharan Africa are among the hardest hit by climate threats, despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions. Access to a wide range of financial services such as savings, agricultural financing, and insurance in addition to microcredit help low-income people adapt and manage economic and climate shocks. Our new name reflects our company’s overall goal: to help low-income households gain access to these types of relevant financial services so that they can lay a foundation for a better life,” said Arthur Sletteberg, Managing Director of Abler Nordic.

    At Abler Nordic, public investment capital from the Norwegian and Danish governmental funds for developing countries, Norfund and IFU respectively, is blended with commercial capital from private investors. Up to now, Abler Nordic has invested over USD 34 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, with USD 16.4 million invested in Kenya in 3 companies. Foreign Exchange Facilities, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enables Abler Nordic to provide capital in local currency and have been instrumental in securing both equity and debt investments in Kenya of USD 14 million across four currencies, where hedging conditions otherwise would limit such investments.

    “The opportunities for inclusive economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa are vast, yet more risk-willing investment capital is needed. At Abler Nordic we do not invest where it is easiest or where risk is lowest, but where we believe we can achieve the biggest social impact alongside sustainable financial returns. I am looking forward to continuing to partner with our African portfolio companies—alongside our Kenya-based team—and seeking new investment opportunities as we continue to grow in Africa,” said Godfrey Kaindoh, Investment Director, and Head of Abler Nordic’s Kenya office.

    A committed and long-term investor with a tailor-made approach, Abler Nordic plays an active role in the development of the five Sub-Saharan African financial inclusion organisations it is currently directly invested in: Juhudi Kilimo (Kenya), Kenya Women Microfinance Bank, Baobab Group (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Tunisia, DRC, and Madagascar), Baobab Senegal, and Tugende (Uganda and Kenya).  Abler Nordic holds board seats at all their equity investments and partners with portfolio companies to create value and support sustainable growth to help them achieve their mission.

    Today, Abler Nordic’s global portfolio companies reach 9.4 million customers, 93 percent of whom are women and 71 percent living in rural areas. Women often face systemic barriers in accessing formal financial products, and rural areas are often the last to be financially served, due in part to infrastructure challenges. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 90 percent of loans are given for income generating purposes, which allow both rural and urban households to start and grow small businesses and improve their quality of life through increased spending on healthcare, education, and home improvements. Since inception in 2008, over 12 million customers globally have been supported with access to responsible financial services through Abler Nordic’s investments.

     

  • One year on, Russia’s grotesque folly in Ukraine has only united its foes

    One year on, Russia’s grotesque folly in Ukraine has only united its foes

    Nick Paton Walsh, Chief International Security Correspondent, CNN

     

    Wars deserve to be measured less in geopolitical chips or swings of alliance, but more in tiny moments of personal agony or horror. A year into Russia’s war on Ukraine and the fate of Ekaterina and Valentin stays with me. Police rescued them from the shelling around their tiny apartment in Lysychansk, before it fell to Russian forces this summer.

     

    Their home was one tiny room, and a shared kitchen and bathroom, the smell of the latter being all Ekaterina could talk about when we met her. Valentin seemed to have dementia, both appeared dazed to the cacophony around them. When police slowly packed them into a waiting car, he clutched vividly a small, tidy briefcase of their documents. It was an act of loss – conceding he may never return – but also of blind faith that the structures around him would persist and that there would be a place in the future where his papers would be useful once more.

     

    Such miniature moments of inconsolable panic are the true cost of Putin’s invasion, as well as tiny symbols of hope in the future, and the reason Ukraine may win out.

     

    Yet perhaps the biggest surprise of the ‘now’ we are in, is what it has taught or reminded the West about its values and purpose.  Russia’s unprovoked invasion has served as the unwitting antidote to six years of clumsy populism, the seismic economic and psychological shock of the pandemic, and a looming feeling that morality and the virtue of values were becoming obsolete when faced by the challenges of a planet in permanent crisis.

     

    It shouldn’t have taken the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainians, nuclear blackmail, and the leveling of so much of a country, to make this point. But it is perhaps the revulsion towards Putin’s brutal and inept war that has helped Europe and the rest of the West rediscover the spines Trump had apparently weakened.

     

    There are so many other moments that stay with me.  The eyes of three old men thrust into our van in Posad Pokhrovka, in the early days of the war, desperate to flee shelling that had torn their world apart, echo in me: not even the Nazis beat them like that, they said, sobbing. They never thought they’d live long enough to see worse than the 1940s.

     

    Wars can intensify scrutiny of both sides’ conduct to the point of ambivalence, so it’s important to pause at this point and emphasize how grotesque and ugly modern Russia is at war.

     

    Firstly, it won’t even admit it is at war – a key indicator of the fictional sands in which it wishes to fight and place the goalposts of victory. Secondly, Moscow has burned through its professional army so fast, it is now press ganging students to the front, and resorting to unleashing human waves of Russian prisoners at Ukrainian trenches. Coffins return empty, the injured are sent back to fight. Thirdly, the lack of sophistication – or even basic self-awareness – is show-stopping. They don’t even seem to want to address how bad they are: this is not the military of hybrid warfare and Putin’s jujitsu moves. In the background the threat of nuclear force has been brandished so ineptly – in chest-pounding signals from a weak Kremlin who are losing the most conventional of fights – they appear to have had the almost opposite effect, galvanizing the West into concerted action because, frankly, who wants to live in a world of nuclear blackmail?

     

    Ukraine’s response has been further fuel to Western unity. Ingenuity has bolstered its furious defence. A territorial defence fighter, known as “Graf” could in Kramatorsk talk for hours about the complexities of syncing drone surveillance to artillery, then switch to the role of western private contractors in the war, and end with a blistering critique on the role alcoholism and corruption would have on the bones of Russia’s nuclear program. Ukraine is sending its best and brightest to fight, and hence adapting to it faster than imaginable, while Russia is forcing convicts to run at machine guns.

     

    Fear of Moscow has begun to evaporate in the past year. The Cold War foe that could vaporize our world – whose warheads were the menace behind so many childhood animations and movies in the 80s – has not lost the internal blindness and shoddiness that led to the Soviet Union’s collapse. It’s as bad as it was, only more desperate – its elite twice humiliated, now and in the 90s. The Russian dead I witnessed sprawled all over the roadside as Ukraine advanced in Kherson this summer were forlornly scruffy, with a sleeping mat and workout gloves for comfort, and only rusting armour at their backs. 

     

    There is something acutely tragic about how fast Russia has fallen. Deservedly so, yes, but pause also to remember the first Putin years contained within their massacres in Chechnya and slow strangulation of dissent, a kernel of economic reform and progress for ordinary Russians. He was at that time creating the middle class that would ultimately risk his downfall. Now all that is gone, and a shrinking population will choke and rasp on the edges of Europe for years to come. Whether Russia requires a harsh reprimand or not, the impact of its demise will be another problem Europe has to endure up close.

     

    What’s most startling about the choice Moscow has imposed on the West – to seek its strategic defeat in Ukraine rather than its limited appeasement – is that Europe was heading in the other direction a year ago: defence budgets were growing in recognition of Russian malice, but the broad hope was Putin would be a benign, grumpy neighbour arguing over the border fence, rather than a savage marauder bent on restoring an empire so aged in concept not even he was old enough to have seen it in full.

     

    The West is now engaged in an act of full-throated support of Ukraine that, it’s fair to say, most of its officials would have deemed far too provocative a year ago. Sending tanks, thinking of F16s, training troops; such things are so brazen, it’s hard to argue this isn’t already NATO’s war too, simply fought by proxy.

     

    Is that a bad thing? For Ukraine, whose sacrifice should never have had to happen, the answer is clearly yes. So much loss remains hidden: I recall being inside as well as shivering outside the administration building of Mykolayiv at the start of the war. Now all I can think of is how many must have been inside it when a missile tore it in two this summer.

     

    But this is a more limited scenario for Russia’s defeat than NATO war planners could have gamed. The Great Power was never meant to falter so explicitly, nor to so ineptly inspire unity in the foes it had worked so hard to divide.

     

    This pattern of miscalculation and misstep by Moscow is not entirely comforting; it still leaves the use of its nuclear arsenal as something of a wild card. We know the consequences for its victims as well as for ordinary Russians, but such concerns have not dissuaded Putin before.

     

    The possibility Russia’s nastiest toys also fail in their most destructive use – that the nuclear button just smokes and purrs when struck – is perhaps what is holding Putin back, or maybe it is that same streak of self-preservation that has guided his every move.  It is also perhaps the innate selfishness and myopia of Russia’s system that reduces this threat, and has enabled such a meaty Western response.

     

    The year ahead will likely see the non-conventional menace of a desperate Russia grow, alongside the slow tiring of Western support, as elections churn and budgets are strained.  But a wider victory has already been achieved in this costly, arduous, painful year: a unity of purpose and substance of support have usurped Moscow’s goal to sow selfishness and division. That moment of clarity can’t be erased, no matter how long it endures.

  • What You Need to Know Before Relocating Abroad

    What You Need to Know Before Relocating Abroad

    The economic fortunes of Kenyans in the diaspora have significantly improved in recent years, with diaspora remittances or money sent back home by Kenyans living abroad steadily rising to become the country’s top forex exchange earner.

    Figures from the Central Bank of Kenya show that the country’s diaspora remittances reached $4.027 billion in 2022, a 8.34% annual growth rate and the highest ever on record. Diaspora remittances have surpassed earnings from coffee, tea, horticulture, and tourism, which have historically been Kenya’s top forex exchange earners.

    The prospect of greener pastures overseas has led many Kenyans to consider relocating abroad for work and studies. One of the most popular destinations is the US, which is the leading source of remittances to Kenya, according to CBK data. Europe and the Middle East are also popular.

    Depending on the country one is going to and the reasons for traveling, visa requirements may vary and it’s best to get in touch with the relevant embassies for accurate information. The procedure for securing housing, accommodation and insurance may also differ.

    There are, however, some tips that could be helpful regardless of which country one wants to travel to. These can help set you in the right direction, especially if you are still evaluating options and haven’t yet made a final decision of where to relocate to.

    These tips include:

    Cost of living and important needs like healthcare

    The cost of living is one of the most important factors to consider before relocating abroad. Having an idea of the cost of basic needs like food, transportation and housing will enable you to have a solid financial plan. It’s also important for one to know what their healthcare options are and what it will cost.

    Medical bills can erase many years of hard work if you do

    not have affordable and reliable insurance. A good health plan will also ensure you get the right care in a timely way in case a medical need arises, minimizing delays that can lead to further health complications.

    It’s critical to check local pages to determine what costs are expected in terms of local residency, wages, transport and healthcare. Comparison sites and educational pages dedicated to migration can ensure you get the best value for money.

    • Sending money back home

    The connection to home is never lost when you relocate abroad, and at some point, you will likely send money back home to friends and loved ones for different reasons. It can be as a gift, for school fees, medical bills and even investments.

    When choosing how to send money home, be sure to pick a remittance service you can trust. Check their ratings on neutral customer review sites like Trustpilot. Make sure that the service you use supports sending money to Kenya. WorldRemit, for example, lists the countries you can

    send money from and to. Senders can transfer money online or via the app to receivers in over 130 countries, including Kenya, with fast and secure transactions.

    It’s also important to consider the needs of the person receiving money. You want to choose a service that gives them various options with regards to how they receive the funds. Those receiving money via WorldRemit can receive the funds in their bank account, mobile money wallet such as MPESA, as a cash pick up at partner financial institutions, and even as airtime top up, allowing for micro-transfers below Sh1000.

    • Cultural and social differences

    Relocating abroad is not just about finding a new job or taking a new educational program. You also need to familiarize yourself with a new culture and social system. This may mean learning to accommodate social values that are foreign to you.

    You need to be aware of topics and mannerisms to avoid in public and where to draw personal boundaries in interpersonal relationships with locals. This will help you socialize with ease and help you acquire new friends and contacts, which can be useful when in a foreign country for the first time.

    A good place to find information on local culture, norms and customs is on the tourism promotion pages run by government agencies responsible for tourism in the country you are looking to move to. These will give you a good sense of what to expect, what is acceptable and what is not. Some social activities may be legal in your country but illegal or tightly controlled abroad. You need to be aware of these kinds of activities and how the rules apply. Reputable social media pages that help migrants settle into host country communities can be sources of useful information.

    Conclusion

    Going overseas for work or study is not always an easy decision. However, for many that take the courageous step, it represents a shot at a better life. The tips in this article can help you make an informed decision if you want to relocate.

    By Ivan Kanyali, Regional Manager, East Africa

  • SAMSUNG ONE UI 5.1 COMES TO CURRENT GALAXY DEVICES ALONGSIDE NEWLY ANNOUNCED GALAXY S23 SERIES

    SAMSUNG ONE UI 5.1 COMES TO CURRENT GALAXY DEVICES ALONGSIDE NEWLY ANNOUNCED GALAXY S23 SERIES

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced One UI 5.1, which was newly unveiled with the Galaxy S23 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2023, will begin to roll out worldwide for other Galaxy devices starting with the Galaxy S22 series, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S21 series, and S20 series. With One UI 5.1, Galaxy devices will deliver a more visually appealing interface with new features that enable greater creativity and personalization for a more convenient experience overall.

    “One UI 5.1 is the up-to-date example of Samsung’s commitment to providing Galaxy users with the latest innovations as soon as possible,” said Janghyun Yoon, EVP and Senior Executive, Software Office. “Over the past several weeks, we have worked closely with our service providers and carrier partners to bring One UI 5.1 to current Galaxy smartphones and tablets around the world within a few short weeks of the Galaxy S23 series announcement.”

    Professional-Quality Camera and More Engaging Gallery

    One UI 5.1 expands upon the recently upgraded camera features announced with the Galaxy S23 series. Galaxy users now have greater flexibility to create professional quality photos with Expert RAW features now available directly as part of the Galaxy Camera app. simply select “More” while taking a photo to capture high-quality shots in their raw format. Additionally, enhanced AI-based Photo Remaster automatically improves deteriorated details of images by improving brightness, fine-tuning details and making color corrections even in backlit scenes. It also removes unwanted shadows and reflections for a picture-perfect photo.

    New navigation improvements also make it easier than ever to find photos within the Gallery app and create shared family albums. Simply tap a person’s face in a photo to conduct a search for more images while the Gallery app searches for faces of loved ones to recommend for family photo albums.

    A Unique Mobile Experience Personalized for Every User

    Samsung has long been focused on giving Galaxy users greater control over their devices by customizing various user interface aspects. One UI 5.1 delivers several exciting new features that allow people to fine-tune nearly every aspect of the mobile experience – from appearance, to communications, actions, and more. Samsung introduced new features that can understand how devices are used and make recommendations accordingly. For example, the new dynamic weather widget analyzes current conditions and creates a custom design that reflects the climate. Modes and Routines have expanded to enable custom wallpapers, ringtones, touch sensitivity, and fonts that can personalize specific activities for even more convenience. One UI 5.1 also improves the Smart suggestions widget by adding the ability to recommend Spotify tracks and playlists based on users’ activities, such as music for road trips or relaxing.

    Samsung has also developed One UI to bring greater integration and connectivity throughout the mobile ecosystem and introduced features supporting this mission. Users can enjoy a connected ecosystem across their mobile and PC with expanded Multi control between Galaxy Book and smart phones. This enables users to share the mouse, keyboard or trackpad of their Galaxy Book not only with their Galaxy tablet, but now also with select Galaxy phones, allowing them to copy and paste text and drag and drop images from one device to another seamlessly — as if they’re the same, single device. Furthermore, Link to Windows enables users to browse with Samsung Internet on their phones to continue browsing the same pages on their PC seamlessly. These pages can also be opened from one device to another, making everyday life much easier.

    Availability

    One UI 5.1 software update starts to roll out for the Samsung Galaxy S22 series1, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, S21 series2, and S20 series3. Software updates for additional Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 will be available in the coming weeks.

  • KEMRI Holds Its 13th Annual Research and Health Conference

    KEMRI Holds Its 13th Annual Research and Health Conference

    The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) held its 13th KEMRI Annual Research and Health (KASH) Conference from 15th to 17th February 2023.

    The conference, among other things, showcased the research activities that are going-on in the areas of its mandates as well as served as a forum for dissemination, networking, and highlighting ongoing and planned activities at country level.

    The conference attracted an estimated 450 participants within Kenya and beyond.

    Symposium sessions ran parallel to breakaway conference session and usually took place in the afternoon period. The half day sessions were usually allocated a maximum of 3 hours.

    KEMRI has been researching Anopheles stephensi in Kenya. Anopheles stephensi is a malaria vector that thrives in both urban and rural settings. Following its detection in Kenya, there is a likelihood of malaria transmission occurring in urban and peri-urban setups in the country. The new mosquito poses a serious threat and could reverse the gains made in the fight against malaria. Anopheles stephensi, a malaria-causing mosquito, was originally known to occur and spread malaria in South-East Asia, the Middle East, and Arabian Peninsula. The mosquito species has been expanding its Geographic range over the last decade, with detections reported in Dhibouti (2012), Ethiopia and Sudan (2016), Somalia (2019), and Nigeria (2020).

    KEMRI participated in Studies that were carried out across all counties in Kenya, in December 2022, which showed that the new malaria-causing mosquito Anopheles stephensi is present in Laisamis and Saku sub-counties in Marsabit County, Northern Kenya. This was confirmed through Laboratory assays conducted on the identity of the vector.

    The Ministry of Health through the Division of National Malaria Programme (DNMP) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) have carried out routine mosquito surveillance in different counties across Kenya and a sample of Anopheles mosquitoes was analyzed in the KEMRI laboratories to determine the species using the Anopheles stephensi protocol.

    Across the twelve counties surveyed, the new mosquito was found in Marsabit County. The detection was done in four different surveillance sites in Marsabit County, where a total of 55 Anopheles larvae were collected but 11 died during transit. Of the 11 larvae, seven were identified as Anopheles stephensi. Forty-four larvae were reared into adults and then killed in a containment facility at KEMRI, four of which were shipped to the CDC for confirmatory testing. Forty newly emerged adults were tested and nine were identified as Anopheles stephensi.

    Malaria in Kenya and Africa at large is known to occur in rural areas. Rainfall, temperature, and availability of unpolluted mosquito breeding habitats in rural areas favor the breeding of malaria mosquitoes. However, Anopheles stephensi is unique as it thrives in man-made containers and breeding habitats in polluted settings. The establishment of Anopheles stephensi in urban and peri-urban areas may pose a serious threat to malaria transmission in areas that have been Anopheles and malaria free. The disease is transmitted through the infectious bite of the Anopheles female mosquito.

    In Kenya, malaria is spread by two major mosquitoes namely Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus. However, the new Anopheles stephensi is  different from the known malaria mosquitoes, as the mosquito exhibits different behavior from the known malaria mosquitoes in the country. The new mosquito thrives in urban settings, unlike known malaria vectors that are mainly found in rural areas. Anopheles stephensi mainly breeds in containers such as jerry cans, tyres, open tanks, sewers, cisterns, overhead tanks, and underground tanks. The known malaria mosquitoes in Kenya breed in rural areas in habitats such as water pools, rice paddies, streams, surface run-offs, streams, sprints, tyre tracks, and hoof prints. Hence, the new mosquito is invasive and can spread very fast to new areas with or without the known malaria mosquitoes, and this could pose a significant public health threat and as a result, reverse the gains made in the fight against malaria.

    KEMRI continues to conduct routine entomological surveillance to determine the extent of vector distribution and mosquito infectivity rates. We call on the public to continue utilizing the available malaria control tools such as mosquito nets, repellants, and wearing long-sleeved clothing to prevent mosquito bites.

  • Bishop Kieru: Clergy Should Avoid Extremist Limits

    Bishop Kieru: Clergy Should Avoid Extremist Limits

    Kenya Assemblies of God Nyahururu District Bishop Simon Kieru has urged the men of cloth to desist from unrealistic endeavours.

    His advice follows the death of a 39-year-old pastor from Mozambique on Wednesday after attempting to mimic Jesus Christ’s biblical feat of fasting for 40 days straight without food and water.

    Francisco Barajah, the founder of the Santa Trindade Evangelical Church and a French teacher in the town of Messica, had fasted for 25 days before he was rushed to hospital by his relatives and followers owing to his deteriorating health.

    Bishop Kieru in his advisory advised:

    “this is unbiblical because graces are different. without food and drinks and he is a human being can’t survive .in the ministry we learn from others but be yourself,”

    Bishop Simon Kieru is the Bishop of Kenya Assemblies of God Nyahururu District.